How Crowded Is Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in September?
September runs about 0.9× Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area's average month, which makes it an average month here — roughly 8% of the park's yearly visitors come in September.
In a typical September the park sees about 61,000 recreation visits, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1982 to 2025.
That makes September the 9th-busiest of the park's twelve months, sitting between the May peak (1.3×) and the December low (0.8×).
On our Best Time to Visit score September rates 66/100 ("Good"), versus the top-rated December at 79/100 — the best overall balance of crowds and daylight.
Because June, July and August together draw about 26% of annual visitors, choosing September instead steps outside that summer crush — the single biggest lever on how crowded the park feels.
You'll have about 12.2 hours of daylight in September to explore — between the 9.7-hour midwinter low and the 14.3-hour summer high.
Park-wide, 2025 drew 722,626 recreation visits, up 13% from 639,745 in 2024.
Across the past decade overall visitation has eased about 10.3%, so September may feel a touch quieter than it once did.
Frequently Asked Questions
September is average at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (about 0.9× the average month). Our best-time score rates it "Good". The single best month overall is December.
The busiest month is May and the quietest is December. September sits at about 0.9× the park's average, or 8% of annual visitation.
A typical September sees about 61,000 recreation visits at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, based on National Park Service monthly counts from 1982–2025.
Where to stay near Santa Monica Mountains in September
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See the full ranking of the best national parks to visit in September.
Source: National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1982–2025). Updated 2026-07-14.